On Tuesday, Aug. 3, Box Butte Health Foundation Director Chelsea Thompson presented a check for $8,000 to representatives of the Activate Alliance committee. The request for donation came from the Activate Alliance committee, a subgroup derived from Box Butte General Hospital’s Community Health Improvement Plan. Representatives from the Activate Alliance committee, and employees of Box Butte General Hospital gathered for the check presentation at the newly painted crosswalk of 12th street and Sweetwater avenue. The Crosswalk Beautification Project is designed to beautify, and improve the safety of crosswalk areas in Alliance along the Snake Creek Trail walking path. Individuals from Keep Alliance Beautiful and the Carnegie Arts Center donated their time and their talent to paint murals on selected crosswalks throughout Alliance. The goal of painting the crosswalks are to improve usage of crosswalks, increase awareness of pedestrians, and beautify the crosswalks.
Wellness Manager Dan Newhoff said, “This is a great committee with a great mission in making improvements in our city to encourage a more active lifestyle. While it would be great if these things just happened on their own, we know it also takes money. The Box Butte Health Foundation has provided us with some financial assistance to continue making improvements in Alliance that the entire community can take advantage of. We are extremely grateful for their gift! Additionally, the partnerships that have been made and the interest we have seen has been amazing. We are so thankful for Kyren Gibson of the Carnegie Arts Center, Kathy Worley of Keep Alliance Beautiful, and all the volunteers that donated their time and talents to the cause.”
Representatives from Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD) facilitate Activate Alliance meetings and offer best practice initiatives to implement in Alliance through alternative transportation that promotes safe and active living. Their partnership also aids in securing additional financial support from outside agencies. Since the group was founded, PPHD has offered public service announcements, the Crosswalk Beautification Project, school walk audits, signage for pedestrian crossings, introduced active living and safety policies to the Alliance City Council members, crossing guard programs, as well as administered funds of their own toward the programming.
“The Box Butte Health Foundation and its board are extremely honored to have been able to support Activate Alliance and the work they are doing through a Community Wellness grant. The Foundation’s vision of ‘leading our community to healthy living’ falls in line with Activate Alliance’s initiatives for the Bike-Share program and Crosswalk Beautification Project. Both of these programs are helping to create conditions that lead to active lifestyles within our community. We are looking forward to seeing the advancement of these projects and others that the Activate Alliance committee develops in their mission to make a more accessible and safe community for people to walk, bike, and roll. These initiatives are sure to provide added benefits to Box Butte County residents” said Box Butte Health Foundation Director Chelsea Thompson.
The funds will be used for programming and initiatives that continue to develop but immediately will be used for the Crosswalk Beautification project as well as developing the Bike-Share program. The Bike-Share program will allow members of the community and visitors an alternative way of transportation outside of their cars and enjoy what the city has to offer.